After a spring to hot and cold weather, summer has arrived with heat and humidity. Many members are busy working on their last year of Atlasing for the county.

A Sedge Wren was reported by Christine Guarino on NYSBIRDS on May 18th. Ken McDermott reported seeing it on May 19th and many club members had gone over to see this rare wren. Christine found it at Hartcourt Wildlife Sanctuary in New Paltz singing and busy building a nest. Her last post on June 16 said it had not been seen in the past 2 days.

Valerie Freer posted on NYSBIRDS a male Kentucky Warbler found on May 13 by Barbara Butler, Carena Pooth and herself near Bashakill on Stonefield Rd. It was still there on May 22nd during our club Saturday field trip to Bashakill. See field trip report write up.

Speaking of Kentucky Warblers, a male Kentucky Warbler was heard by myself on Friday, May 14 and again on the May Census - May 15th at Vassar Farms. I went back on May 25th and found it singing in a new area than previous years. It was in trees past the dump road that had a small stream - making it a wet area which they like. It was last seen on May 29th by Barbara Mansell, Liz Martens and Sue Joseph. The first Kentucky Warbler found at Vassar Farms was in May 1999 and has been seen every year since. It has not found a mate that we can find to confirm them for the Breeding Bird Atlas. Ken McDermott called to say he heard a Kentucky Warbler on May 26th at Norrie Point while birding there.

On May 14th I also found a Brewster’s Warbler in the same nearby trees as the Kentucky Warbler. It was being chased by 2 Blue-winged Warblers. On May 29th Barbara Mansell, Liz and Sue tried to find the Brewster’s Warbler but were not successful. They did find a female Golden-winged Warbler there instead. That was quite a find. We have had Golden-winged Warblers at Vassar on May 2001 and again in May 2002. I think the Breeding Bird Atlasing has helped find birds not always reported or found.

On May 28th a Lawrence’s Warbler was found on private property by Bob Bowler on Prospect Hill Rd. and not relocated the next day.

Do enjoy the summer and birding throughout Dutchess County. Please remember to report any breeding evidence you find to (or use our handy online form) if you are not working on a Breeding Bird Atlas block.